Vodacom Bulls loose-forward, Cyle Brink, is set to make his Vodacom United Rugby Championship debut when his side takes on Welsh outfit, Scarlets Rugby, at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.
The Vodacom Bulls will end what has been a demanding week of rugby with a visit from the Llanelli-based side, this on the back of a mid-week Carling Currie Cup win over Cell C Sharks on Wednesday and a historic Vodacom URC victory against Munster Rugby last Saturday.
The Tshwane-based side have made 10 changes to the team that was in action in the domestic match on Wednesday and four changes to the victorious team that was in action against Munster the past weekend.
“It has been a very busy week for us as a squad this week – playing three tough matches in a space of seven days in both the Vodacom URC and Carling Currie Cup,” said Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, ahead of the game.
“Management of our playing personnel has been key this week. As a result, we have made a total of 10 changes to the team that was on duty on Wednesday night against the Cell C Sharks in the Carling Currie Cup.
“We have another tough match against a Scarlets team that has shown what a threat they can be I the Vodacom URC. We will need to be sharp and prepared to play an 80-minute game in what promises to be a highly competitive encounter.”
Some of the changes to the team from the match against Munster will see Canan Moodie earning a starting berth at wing, while Cornal Hendricks shifts to outside centre, where he will form a midfield pairing with Harold Vorster.
Zak Burger returns to the starting XV at scrumhalf, while in the forwards Brink will don the No7 jersey.
The match will kick-off at 19h10 on Friday, and it will be televised on SuperSport.
Vodacom Bulls team to face Scarlets
STARTERS (15-1): Kurt-Lee Arendse (Betway Centurion), Canan Moodie (Pretoria), Cornal Hendricks (Northam Rhinos), Harold Vorster (Northam Rhinos), Madosh Tambwe (Pretoria), Chris Smith (Harlequins), Zak Burger (Tuine); Elrigh Louw (UP Tuks), Cyle Brink (Betway Centurion), Marcell Coetzee (CAPT, ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Walt Steenkamp (Betway Centurion), Jacques van Rooyen (Tuine), Johan Grobbelaar (UP Tuks), Gerhard Steenekamp (ABE Midas Naka Bulle).
IMPACT (16-23): Joe van Zyl (Harlequins), Simphiwe Matanzima (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Robert Hunt (Harlequins), Reinhardt Ludwig (UP Tuks), Arno Botha (ABE Midas Naka Bulle); Keagan Johannes (UP Tuks), Morne Steyn (Tuine), Lionel Mapoe (Pretoria).
